8 Wonderful Things to do in Caye Caulker

Swim with nurse sharks, dive into the world’s second-largest barrier reef, watch magical sunsets and explore the tiny colourful island. These are just some of the wonderful things to do in Caye Caulker. Read on for our complete Caye Caulker Travel Guide!

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Go Slow! The island’s apt motto you’ll see everywhere telling you what to expect as soon as you arrive. This Belizean tropical paradise is as laidback as it gets! 

Spend your days lapping up the sun beer in hand, swimming in the warm shallow ocean, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, diving amongst vibrant coral reefs or even snorkelling with sharks.

Caye Caulker is a small Caribbean Island located just off the east coast of Belize, 21 miles northeast of Belize City. It’s divided in two by a section known as ‘The Split’ (more on that later). 

In the centre of Caye Caulker is the island’s only settlement, Caye Caulker Village, with a population of around 2000 and growing. This is where most of the bars, eateries, accommodation and shops are.

To the south of Caye Caulker Village are a few secluded accommodation options surrounded by mangroves and to the north, is a dense mangrove forest home to diverse birdlife and is protected by a forest reserve.

Surrounding the entire area is the spectacular Belize Barrier Reef; the second-largest barrier reef in the world!

Clear water with colourful corals just below the surface in Caye Caulker, Belize
There are so many amazing things to do in Caye Caulker

A treasure in the Caribbean Sea, you can walk around the island in a couple of hours. Eight kilometres long and a kilometre and a half wide at its longest part.

Despite its size, there are many amazing things to do in Caye Caulker. It packs a hell of a lot in and has so much to offer its visitors. Be prepared to fall head over heels and end up staying longer than expected.

Go Slow motto painted on a trailer on a white sand beach on Caye Caulker, Belize
Go Slow perfectly describes the way of life on Caye Caulker

In this Caye Caulker Travel Guide, we’ll cover 8 wonderful things to do in Caye Caulker before moving on to everything you need to know including how to get there, how long to spend, the best time of year to visit and more.

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Contents

Things to do in Caye Caulker

Dive the World's Second-Largest Barrier Reef

Spanning almost 300 kilometres, the Belize Barrier Reef is the second-largest barrier reef in the world. Home to several hundred sand cays, mangrove forests, estuaries, coastal lagoons and atolls, it’s one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet! 

The reef is a significant habitat for several threatened species, including marine turtles, West Indian manatees and the American marine crocodile.

One of the best things to do in Caye Caulker is to dive amongst this vibrant underwater world. Check out the most famous of Belize’s dive sites, the Blue Hole, or head to Shark Ray Alley where the crystal clear waters are infested with nurse sharks and rays.

Diving in crystal clear water with colourful corals, and lots of fish is one of the best things to do in Caye Caulker, Belize
Diving in Caye Caulker is a bucketlist experience

Visit the Split

In 1961, Hurricane Hattie hit Caye Caulker and split the island in two causing a gap of approximately 50 metres. Canoes and small boats used this narrow channel of turquoise water to pass between the sections helping to aid cleanup efforts.

The Split is now the heart of the island where everyone comes to hang out. One of the most fun things to do in Caye Caulker is to enjoy some food and drinks alongside amazing music at the popular Lazy Lizard beach bar.

For a Caribbean island, there aren’t many places where people swim. The Split’s clean and calm water is the most popular spot so make sure you put this on your list of things to do in Caye Caulker as well as snorkel, sunbathe and jump off the diving platform.

The Split is one of the best places in Caye Caulker to watch the sunset and is popular with locals and tourists gathering here at the end of the day to enjoy the vibrant and lively atmosphere as the sun goes down.

White sand with tables and the Lazy Lizard Beach Bar at The Split is one of the most popular places in Caye Caulker, Belize
The Split is one of the most popular places to hang out

Walk Around the Island

At 8 kilometres long and a kilometre and a half across at its widest, Caye Caulker is a fairly tiny island. There are areas where it’ll take you just two minutes to walk from one side to the other! 

One of the best things to do in Caye Caulker is to explore the island on foot. I went for a couple of early morning runs when I visited and really got to experience how wonderfully colourful the island is; every building is different!

Vibrant coloured buildings lining the streets of Caye Caulker Village, Belize
Caye Caulker Village is vibrant and full of colour

A single path runs the whole way around the island so it’s fairly tricky to get lost. Heading south out of the centre of Caye Caulker Village you’ll soon hit the more residential areas and see stylish houses overlooking the ocean.

Our Top Tip: be aware that there are crocodiles in the south as it’s quite swampy. They’re more scared of people and will run off at the faintest sound of someone approaching so don’t let it put you off exploring.

Snorkel the Turquoise Waters

If you feel like you’re going to miss out because you don’t have your PADI qualification, fear not, one of the must-do things to do in Caye Caulker is go snorkelling as here you’ll find some of the best snorkelling in the world!
 
The water’s incredibly clear and has remarkable visibility so you can see far beneath the surface. In addition, much of the aquatic life and colourful corals are near the surface of the ocean so the best view is with a snorkel.
 
Crystal clear water with colourful corals, jellyfish and lots of fish in Caye Caulker, Belize
Snorkelling is one of the best things to do in Caye Caulker
Packed with nurse sharks and rays that have a great tolerance for humans, Shark Ray Alley has some of the best snorkelling in Caye Caulker. Rays will even swim up to you inviting you to touch their wings (although best not to do so).
 
Manatees are also pretty common to spot. These large and gentle “sea cows” tend to be found in shallow waters as they feed on seagrass, mangrove leaves and algae. Snorkelling in Caye Caulker is an unforgettable experience!
A ray bobbing along the ocean floor while snorkelling in Caye Caulker, Belize
A friendly ray in Caye Caulker coming to say hello

Get Your Guide has a great selection of snorkelling tours in Caye Caulker ranging in duration. Browse the options below or click on one of the links to see all of Get Your Guide’s Caye Caulker tours.

Watch a Magical Sunset

One of the best things to do in Caye Caulker in the evening is watch the sunset. 
 

Watching the sun descend into the Caribbean Sea and light up the sky with different shades of oranges and reds is something truly magical. Mother Nature truly outdoes herself here and you’ll never experience the same sunset twice.

One of the best places to watch the sunset in Caye Caulker is at The Split, so, gather your friends, your partner or even come alone and celebrate the last of the sunshine. Grab a drink from the bar and appreciate the calm that’ll stay long after the sun goes down.

Watching the sunset across the ocean with a cloudy sky lit up in fiery reds and oranges is one of the top things to do in Caye Caulker, Belize
Caye Caulker sunsets are a magical experience

Another incredible way to experience the sun descending into the ocean is on a sunset cruise along the coast of Caye Caulker with drinks, music and great company.

Swim with Sharks

If you have limited time, swimming with sharks is one of the must-do things to do in Caye Caulker as it’s the experience of a lifetime! 

Shark Ray Alley is the most common place to see these majestic animals but you can also spot them in other areas around the reef.

Seeing a frenzy of nurse sharks at Shark Ray Alley is one of the best things to do in Caye Caulker, Belize
Swimming with sharks is a must-do activity in Caye Caulker

If you have your PADI qualification, we’d recommend going diving as Shark Ray Alley can get pretty busy with boats and other swimmers which spoils the atmosphere a little.

When I dived, there was only one other group and the sharks were so intrigued by us and swam along next to us to see where we were going. 

If, however, swimming with the sharks is quite overwhelming, you can get a great view from the boat. Tour operators throw little bits of fish in the water that attract the sharks so you’ll still gain a great experience without having to get in the water with them.

Enjoy Caye Caulker's Nightlife

Caye Caulker’s compact centre manages to pack in a lot of bars, restaurants and clubs. It doesn’t get super wild and crazy but you can absolutely have a good night out. 

It’s mostly laidback reggae bars with rustic tables and chairs, swings hanging from the ceiling and a beachfront seating. You’ll also find a few bars open until the early hours of the morning where you can dance the night away if that’s what you fancy.

It’s easy to spot the more lively places and also easy to avoid them depending on what you’re after. Most bars run specials on alternating days.

Explore the North Side of Caye Caulker

One of the first things you may notice about Caye Caulker is that there aren’t as many white sandy beaches as you would expect from a Caribbean Island.

However, hop across ‘The Split’ to the northern side of the island and you’ll find the best beach in Caye Caulker!

Here, you’ll find a beautiful long strip of fine white sand where you’ll sometimes find a pop-up bar. The sea is lovely and calm and perfect for a swim.

Explore a little further north and you’ll stumble upon a couple of restaurants; North Side Happy Lobster and La Fogata. There are also a few boutique accommodation options if you’d prefer to stay somewhere more secluded than on the more lively island.

A long stretch of white sand beach on the north island of Caye Caulker with dense mangrove forests in the background

That rounds off our list of the best things to do in Caye Caulker. We’ll now share everything you need to know before visiting.

How to Get to Caye Caulker

Getting to Caye Caulker from Belize City, there are two water taxi services: the San Pedro Express and the Ocean Ferry. They cost a similar price and the terminals are next to each other. Return tickets are open-ended and valid for 3 months. 

Ferries take around an hour and although we recommend checking the schedule, ferries work on ‘island time’ so don’t necessarily leave when scheduled. Arrive in ample time for an early departure but also plan for it leaving late; life here is very laidback.

The weather can also impact timings.

For those with more of a budget, 8-minute flights operate between Belize City and Caye Caulker with Tropic Air and Maya Island Air. There are a few flights a day mostly on 12-seater aircraft and fly low so you’ll have an amazing view of the tropical cayes!

From Mexico, take a ferry from Chetumal to Caye Caulker via San Pedro with the San Pedro Water Taxi. Ferries depart at 10am and take an hour and a half to San Pedro where you’ll clear immigration before continuing for another half an hour.

Note; you’ll have to pay the Mexico departure fee as well as your ferry ticket which is around 55 USD per person and subject to change so check before you leave and make sure you have cash.

How Long Should I spend in Caye Caulker?

For the best things to do in Caye Caulker, allow at least 3 full days. Also, give yourself an extra day on top of what you initially planned for. I booked for 2 days and left after 4. It’s a place to fall head over heels in love with, get off the grid and completely unwind.

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Everything Else You Need to Know to Visit Caye Caulker

What currency do I need?

Belize uses the Belize dollar. At the time of writing, 1 USD is 2.02 BZD.

What plug do I need?

Belize uses three types of plug; A, B and G. Type A is two flat prongs as used in North America, B is two flat prongs and an extra pin for grounding and G is three rectangular pins in a triangle shape, as used in the UK. 

Whichever plug you bring, also bring an adapter just in case. Voltage is 110/220 V.
 

When is the best time to visit Caye Caulker?

The best time to visit Belize, in general, is from late November to mid-April which is the country’s dry season. From June to October there can be more than 20 days of rain a month!
 

Do I need a Visa?

As a UK passport holder, you don’t need a visa for stays up to 30 days.
 

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post on wonderful things to do in Caye Caulker and found it useful. As always, feel free to leave a comment or contact us.

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